Bio & Incident Details
Age: 38
Tour: 14 years, 6 months
Badge # 33
Military veteran
Cause: Gunfire
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Offender: Sentenced to death
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Officer Richard May was shot and killed when he responded to a disturbance call.
Officer May responded to the corner of University Avenue and Weeks Street at approximately 1630 hours. When he arrived, he observed several men fighting. As he approached the group, one of the men fled. Officer May attempted to stop that male, when the suspect turned around and opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun, killing Officer May. The suspect fled on foot, but was apprehended later that night. The suspect, a documented gang member, was found with a bullet wound to his leg, that had been inflicted by Officer May before he died.
A 14-year-old police explorer was participating in a ride along with Officer May at the time of the incident, but was not injured.
Officer May was a US Marine Corps veteran and had served with the East Palo Alto Police Department for 18 months. He had previously served for 13 years with the Lompoc Police Department. He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
